by Andrea Kane
Simone laid it out in several tersely worded sentences, so as to gauge Robert’s reaction.
“She’s the bargaining chip Xu Wei played to gain access to the technology when other methods failed. Xu hired a brutally violent Albanian organized crime group. They kidnapped Lauren, snatched her off the streets of Munich, and took her to a remote farmhouse in Croatia, where she’s been held hostage. The instructions to Vance were to get them the drawings they wanted in seven days or his daughter would die. That’s the nightmare your friend has been living while you’ve been plotting your professional future.”
For a long moment, Robert simply gaped at her, as non-comprehension transformed into agonized awareness.
“Oh my God.” His entire body recoiled, his pupils dilated with shock—a reaction that left no doubt as to his obliviousness over Xu’s methods. “Oh dear God.”
Sweat broke out on his forehead, trickling down onto his face, and Simone wondered if he was going to be sick. He swallowed convulsively, and his hands shook as he gripped his knees, leaning forward to scrutinize Simone’s expression. “Is Lauren… Is she… Did they…?”
Part of Simone wanted to prolong his fear, to remind him that he could be facing another charge—accessory to murder. But the man was in obvious torment, his features twisted with panic and anguish, his breathing coming so fast that Simone feared he’d have a heart attack. Human decency prevailed and she went on to end his suffering.
“Lauren was rescued a few hours ago,” she told him. “She’s alive, traumatized but physically unharmed, and on her way home to her parents.”
“Thank the Lord.” Robert sagged into the sofa cushion, covering his face with his palms. “Poor Vance. And Susan, my God, Susan. What they must have been through.”
“I think you know the answer to that.” Simone had everything she needed. Time to wrap this up and get the wheels of justice in motion. “It’s over, Robert. Now it’s time to do the right thing—actually, the only thing, given that an FBI agent is arriving on the scene as we speak and that our entire conversation here has been recorded. They’ll be receiving the recording of this conversation, along with all the evidence we’ve compiled against Xu Wei—enough to implicate him and to link him to Jia li. Which makes her an accessory—an accessory who I’m sure will be more than willing to cut a deal, now that she knows how meaningless your love affair is.”
Jia li nodded vigorously, anger and betrayal stemming her flow of tears. “I knew nothing about this,” she stated flatly. “Only that Robert was being wronged by NanoUSA and that he was negotiating with Xu Wei to take his technology with him and use it to start a new company. The rest…” She shuddered. “Violence? Kidnapping? Organized crime? I had no idea.” Her lips thinned. “Nor did I know anything about the women—about there being so many others before me and how my future would be when I’m no longer as young and fresh. He told me it was his age, that they didn’t want a sixty-three-year-old man running their company when there was so much young blood out there. Clearly, I was a gullible fool. I won’t make that mistake again. Anything the FBI wants to know, I’ll tell them.”
“None of this is necessary.” Robert spoke quietly, his shoulders slumped in defeat. “I’ll voluntarily talk to the FBI myself. I’ll admit to my crimes. But I swear those crimes were limited to conspiring to commit industrial espionage. I would never… never…” He broke off, tears shimmering in his eyes. “I have to face Vance, to explain, to apologize, to…”
“I doubt he’ll want to hear your explanations. Instead, I suggest you contact your attorney.” Simone took out her extra phone and made her call. “Yes, Agent Albertson. As you heard, Robert Maxwell has agreed to come in willingly. As has Jia li Sung.”
“Yup, I heard it loud and clear,” Terri replied. “That works out perfectly.” She gave Simone the necessary information Marc had provided, together with the details of the plan. “By the time Albertson returns from his stroll, you’ll be gone. Time to make a graceful exit. Tell Robert you’re meeting up with Agent Albertson outside for a quick, private briefing and that he’ll be coming in shortly to take them into custody. As soon as you’re out the door, get those gloves on, get out that pen, and scribble the drop box link I’ll give you on the outside of the envelope. Then slide it through the open window in Albertson’s car. Between the contents of the USB drive and what I’m uploading to the drop box, the FBI will know about everyone, from Robert Maxwell down to David Cheng.”
“I understand.”
“Aidan was worried, to say the least,” Terri added. “I’ll let him know you’re okay.”
“I appreciate that.” Simone disconnected the call.
“I’m meeting Agent Albertson outside to tie up loose ends,” she told Robert and Jia li. “I’ll stress the fact that you’re both eager to cooperate. The rest is up to him.”
“Thank you,” Robert said.
“It’s a fact, not a favor. Frankly, you make me sick,” she replied, leaving without a backward glance.
* * *
The Zermatt Group Offices
West 75th Street, Manhattan, New York
1 March
Thursday, 11:55 p.m. local time
Terri turned her attention to the large wall of computer displays in front of her. It was time to wrap up the one loose end that was still a thorn in her side: Xu Wei. While the evidence implicated everyone, the FBI had no jurisdiction in China, so to nail Xu’s ass to the wall, she needed to commit a crime in his name in China.
Resorting to her favorite game, Terri made a few tweaks and created Wheel of Fortune, the Macau edition. So instead of spinning for dollars, she was spinning for renminbi. When she didn’t like the amount the wheel stopped on, she rounded up generously. After three spins, she had the three amounts she was going to wire out of Xu Wei’s personal account and into the pockets of some crooked government officials. While corruption was nothing new, blatant greed and overt displays of corruption were not tolerated.
Terri made sure to make the bribes highly embarrassing to Communist Party officials, leaving them no choice but to take care of the problem.
She smiled at the thought of Xu Wei rotting in a Chinese jail.
30
Los Altos Hills, California
2 March
Friday, 9:45 p.m. local time
Lauren was out of the town car the instant it stopped in front of the brick staircase leading to her family’s house. Simultaneously, the front door burst open and Susan, Vance, and their two older children all raced out. Like a true mother, Susan was half a step ahead of the rest of the family, her arms outstretched as she hurried down the front steps to snatch her daughter in her arms.
“Lauren, oh, Lauren,” she sobbed, rocking her from side to side as if she were a small child. “Thank God. Oh, thank God. You’re home. You’re alive. You’re safe.”
“I’m okay, Mom—really I am.” Lauren’s choked-up words were meant to be reassuring, but she was clinging to her mother as tightly as her mother was clinging to her, and the aftermath of shaking and weeping began all over again. “I was so scared,” she whispered. “I thought they’d kill me. I never thought I’d see you again. I’d given up…” Her gaze met her father’s over her mother’s shoulder. Tears were seeping down his cheeks and he moved in, wrapping his arms around both his wife and his daughter and hugging them close.
“Baby…” he managed. “Welcome home.”
Lauren swallowed hard. “I never thought I’d hear those words, not ever. Thank you for sending Aidan and his team. They saved my life, Daddy. They were amazing.”
“I know.” Vance’s gaze flickered to the town car. Aidan was standing outside it, hip planted against the open rear door, genuine pleasure glinting in his eyes as he watched the joyous reunion.
By this time, Lauren’s two siblings had joined their parents, grabbing Lauren to kiss and hug her. They themselves were still in shock over the gruesome situation they’d only just learned about and were weak with relief that th
eir baby sister was home safe and sound.
Gently, Vance disengaged himself from the group, murmuring, “I need to talk to Aidan.” He kissed his daughter’s forehead. “You all go inside and get settled. Dr. Flecker will be here soon to check you out. I’ll be right in.” He waved away his daughter’s upcoming objection. “I know Aidan’s pilot has medical training from his army days and that he examined you and gave us a thumbs-up. I know that you’ve told me a half dozen times that you’re fine. But I need to hear it from our family physician.”
Lauren nodded, a new maturity and understanding underlying her response. She’d been through hell, but so had her parents. “Okay.”
Vance glanced at Susan, who was looking directly at Aidan and mouthing, Thank you. Bless you.
Aidan smiled, giving her a nod of understanding.
Vance watched his family escort Lauren inside. Then he walked over, pausing in front of Aidan as he struggled for the right words. “I don’t know how to express my gratitude. You did everything you said you’d do and more. Your team… your guidance… your skills… without them, Lauren wouldn’t be here. She wouldn’t be alive.”
“But she is,” Aidan replied.
“Yes, thank God.” Vance reached into his back pocket and extracted his checkbook and a pen. “I’ll write you whatever fee you name. There’s no amount too great for what you’ve given me.”
Aidan waved away the offer. “Not necessary. Watching your family reunion is all the gratitude I need.”
Vance looked startled. “Is it the anonymity? I can pay you in cash.”
“We’re more than solvent. No financial payment is needed.” Aidan changed the subject to one that was in the forefront of his mind. “Lauren is a lovely young woman, strong and courageous. And, yes, physically, she’s fine. Still, there’s bound to be some degree of post-traumatic stress following an ordeal like the one she suffered. I’d suggest you get her into counseling right away. You and Susan would benefit from some, too.”
Vance nodded. “Susan suggested family counseling. She already got recommendations for a few highly rated therapists.” He swallowed hard. “I couldn’t bring myself to help her. I was afraid to think that far ahead.”
“Completely understandable. But now you can.” A contemplative pause. “The FBI is already starting to conduct a full investigation. Given the size of the two companies involved, plus the inevitable leak of Lauren’s kidnapping, there’s no way you’ll escape an onslaught of media coverage. All the more reason Lauren will need counseling. This is going to be tough on her, even if she refuses to comment.”
“I know. I’ve already contacted our attorney. We’ll protect her any way we can. But you’re right. Every news station will be running with this. Social media will be flooded. Lauren’s friends, professors, everyone will want to know what happened. She’s going to need a lot of support. And she’ll have it.” Vance locked gazes with Aidan. “What about you and your team? How will you retain your anonymity?”
A corner of Aidan’s mouth lifted. “I’ll hand that problem over to Marc. He’s former FBI. He’ll know what to do. Not to worry. What about you? Have you decided whether or not you’ll speak with Robert Maxwell? As I understand it, he’s frantic to talk to you.”
Vance stared at the ground. “I’m not ready to make that decision. I’m not even ready to think about whether or not I want to stay on at Nano. Industrial espionage, a link to organized crime, and a corrupt CEO will result in irrevocable damage—the kind I’m not at all sure I want to ride out. As for Robert, on some rational level, I realize he didn’t have a hand in Lauren’s kidnapping. But his actions and decisions precipitated it.” Vance raised his gaze to meet Aidan’s. “He was my mentor and my friend, one of the most honorable people I’ve ever met. Or so I thought. Now…” Vance gave a baffled shake of his head. “I don’t even know the man. Maybe I never did. Seeing or even talking to him right now would be a bad idea. He’s trying to purge, but I’m trying to recover. I’m going to need time.”
“That’s very decent of you,” Aidan replied. “Not many people would even consider speaking to him. From what I’m hearing, he’s a broken man. Everything he cares about is gone—his job, his reputation, his freedom. And, if rumor has it correctly, his wife. Looking away from indiscretions is a far cry from having them splashed all over the Internet. That, together with having her husband facing federal charges and an almost certain lengthy prison term, is more than she’s willing to endure.”
“His poor children and grandchildren,” Vance murmured. “The impact on them is going to be very hard. For that reason alone I might agree to speak with Robert. I know his family. Maybe I can help in some way.” Once again, tears glistened in Vance’s eyes. “I have my daughter back, alive and well. I feel very blessed—blessed enough to be compassionate about Robert’s kids and grandkids, if not Robert himself.”
“I understand.” And he did, more than Vance could ever know. Even as they stood there, finishing up, all Aidan could think about was Abby. He couldn’t wait to get to Disneyland and hold his little girl.
He extended his hand, clasping Vance’s in a firm handshake. “Go inside and enjoy your family.”
“I will.” With a grateful glance over his shoulder, Vance nodded. He turned back to Aidan a different man than he’d been a week ago—one who’d come close to enduring an unthinkable loss and whose priorities would be forever changed. “Again, you have my eternal gratitude.”
“Semper Fi,” Aidan replied, repeating the same Marine motto he’d uttered in Vance’s office a week ago.
“Semper Fi.”
Marc scrutinized Aidan once he was back in the town car and their driver had started on the return trip to San Jose International Airport. “That looked intense.”
“Yup.” Aidan rubbed his eyes with his thumb and forefinger. “No surprise there.”
“You okay?”
“Just wiped. The adrenaline rush is giving way to major exhaustion.”
“You’re full of it. You’re thinking about Abby. So am I.” Marc blew out a breath, leaning his head back against the headrest. “I can’t wait to see the little tyrant. Even if it is only long enough for us all to catch a few hours of sleep, after which she and I will share a quick carousel ride and a ginormous breakfast before I pack Emma and Joyce up and the three of us fly back to New York.”
“I hope you understand,” Aidan said. “I just want a few fun days alone with her—just to be Daddy. I need that after this one.”
“I know you do.” Marc needed no explanation. “Besides, I have my work cut out for me—dealing with the Bureau and keeping Zermatt a secret.” He grinned. “Hey, if push comes to shove, I’ll credit Forensic Instincts with Lauren’s rescue.”
Aidan grinned back. “Feel free.”
“I appreciate the use of your plane. But how’s Simone getting home?”
“She’s flying commercial, and she’s already airborne. But she’s not going straight home. She’s going to spend a week of vacation time in Manhattan.”
“Ah, so the two of you kissed and made up via phone.”
“If that’s what you want to call it.” Aidan rolled his eyes. “I reamed her out for breaking protocol and putting herself in danger. She reamed me out for being too rigid and for letting my personal feelings cloud my vision. Robert’s appearance at Jia li’s apartment, and his guilt, came out of the blue and we’d had no plan in place for dealing with that. She went on to remind me that I would have done just what she did under the circumstances. And she’s right; I would have.”
Marc nodded, hiding his smile. “You can’t argue with success.”
“Yeah, I get it. Don’t sound so smug.” Aidan shot his brother a sideways look. “So to answer your question, yes, she and I are good.”
“And you’ll get to explore just how good since she’ll be waiting in New York when you and Abby return.”
“Exactly.” Aidan’s grin was back. “Nothing beats make-up sex. I’m a lucky guy. Which remi
nds me, does Maddy know you’ll be home tomorrow? Or are you surprising her?”
“Oh, she knows. She’s preparing a welcome home celebration—just the two of us. I wouldn’t want to deprive her of that.”
“Of course not.”
Both men laughed.
Abruptly, Aidan sobered, and he put a hard hand on Marc’s shoulder. “It was great working with you, Frogman. I might have to call on you again some time.”
Marc sobered, as well. “Sounds good, Leatherneck. I’ve got your back.”
“I know. And I’ve got yours.”
EPILOGUE
Offices of Forensic Instincts
Tribeca, Manhattan, New York
4 March
Monday, 9:00 a.m. local time
For the first time in ten days, the entire Forensic Instincts team was reunited, gathered around the conference room table.
“Nice tan,” Casey said to Emma, sipping her coffee and going for the weakest link to try and get some inside info.
With that, both Claire Hedgleigh, FI’s claircognizant, and Patrick Lynch, the team’s security expert, leaned forward. Besides Casey, they were the only two team members who’d played no part in the past week’s adventure. Now they were eager for intel.
“Thanks,” Emma replied, grinning like a Cheshire cat. “But don’t waste your time pumping me. I only know the Bluejacking part Aidan already told you, plus every ride and attraction at Disneyland. Other than that, I’m clueless. And exhausted. Running after Abby helped me lose three pounds in spite of all the junk I ate.”
The team chuckled.
“Okay,” Patrick interceded. “Ryan? Spend any quality time in your lair last week?”
Ryan leaned back in his chair, bending his leg at the knee and resting it on top of the other. “It was an interesting week.” With that, he popped a piece of blueberry muffin in his mouth.
“That’s it?” Claire demanded. Other than the cryptic conversation Ryan and Marc had had while she was in Ryan’s bed, she’d learned nothing from him. “You must have something to toot your own horn about. You always do.”